Liacaridae
Sellnick, 1928
Liacaridae is a of oribatid comprising approximately 7 and over 240 described . Members are small ( body length 445–735 μm) characterized by specific morphological features including lamellar and interlamellar arrangements. The family includes the fossil genus †Liacarus and extant genera such as Adoristes, Xenillus, and Dorycranosus. Species within this family exhibit in body size, with females typically larger than males.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Liacaridae: //laɪəˈkærɪdiː//
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Identification
Distinguished from other oribatid by the combination of: interlamellar shorter than ; translamella usually absent (variable); and the presence of a sclerotized semicircle to prodorsal seta le in . Juvenile with thick legs and , especially leg I, and posteroventral opening aids in identification. body size ranges from 445–735 μm with females larger than males.
Images
Appearance
possess with interlamellar shorter than the lamella; translamella usually absent but may be incomplete or present as a thin . are unpigmented, oval in cross-section, with thin and smooth prodorsal and gastronotal setae. All juvenile stages bear a sclerotized semicircle located to each prodorsal seta le. Juveniles have relatively thick legs and , especially leg I, with smooth or short-barbed leg setae. opening positioned posteroventrally.
Distribution
Records from Denmark (DK), Norway (NO), and Sweden (SE) based on GBIF data. Global distribution likely broader given 240+ described across 7 .
Diet
At least some members (e.g., Adoristes ovatus) have been inferred as xylophages based on —specifically the posteroventral opening position, which has been observed as typical of wood-feeding oribatid .
Life Cycle
Development includes larval and nymphal stages. bears 11 pairs of gastronotal ; bear 12 pairs of gastronotal setae without the d-series. are unpigmented with relatively thick legs and .
More Details
Taxonomic Note
Adoristes (Gordeeviella) Shtanchaeva, Subías & Arillo, 2010 has been provisionally synonymized with Adoristes Hull, 1916 based on morphological ontogeny studies.